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Compressibility equation

In statistical mechanics and thermodynamics the compressibility equation refers to an equation which relates the isothermal compressibility to the structure of the liquid. It reads:where is the number density, g(r) is the radial distribution function and is the isothermal compressibility.

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In statistical mechanics and thermodynamics the compressibility equation refers to an equation which relates the isothermal compressibility (and indirectly the pressure) to the structure of the liquid. It reads: k T ( ρ p ) = 1 + ρ V d r [ g ( r ) 1 ] {\displaystyle kT\left({\frac {\partial \rho }{\partial p}}\right)=1+\rho \int _{V}\mathrm {d} \mathbf {r} [g(r)-1]} where ρ {\displaystyle \rho } is the number density, g(r) is the radial distribution function and k T ( ρ p ) {\displaystyle kT\left({\frac {\partial \rho }{\partial p}}\right)} is the isothermal compressibility.

Using the Fourier representation of the Ornstein-Zernike equation the compressibility equation can be rewritten in the form:

1 k T ( p ρ ) = 1 1 + ρ h ( r ) d r = 1 1 + ρ H ^ ( 0 ) = 1 ρ C ^ ( 0 ) = 1 ρ c ( r ) d r {\displaystyle {\frac {1}{kT}}\left({\frac {\partial p}{\partial \rho }}\right)={\frac {1}{1+\rho \int h(r)\mathrm {d} \mathbf {r} }}={\frac {1}{1+\rho {\hat {H}}(0)}}=1-\rho {\hat {C}}(0)=1-\rho \int c(r)\mathrm {d} \mathbf {r} }

where h(r) and c(r) are the indirect and direct correlation functions respectively. The compressibility equation is one of the many integral equations in statistical mechanics.

References

References

  • McQuarrie, Donald A. (1976). Statistical mechanics. New York: Harper & Row. p. 269. ISBN 978-0-06-044366-5.